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Getting Organized in the Era of Endless

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Posts Tagged ‘American Red Cross’

September is Disaster Preparedness Month. Recently I was interviewed by a Los Angeles Times reporter writing an article about things we might forget to do during a disaster. Stress is high. The brain gets overwhelmed. We’re often sleep deprived. It is a perfect storm, if you’ll excuse the pun, for forgetfulness. I am the author of Organize for Disaster: Prepare Your Family and Your Home for Any Natural or Unnatural Disaster and while it’s a great book, you won’t find these ‘Don’t Forget’ tips in it. Disaster preparedness is a very dynamic field. After every disaster, there is always more to learn and implement into our own personal disaster preparedness plans.

So, what might you forget to do?

Don’t forget to periodically download to a flash drive, digital information such as the account numbers and log in information for your web-based bank and brokerage accounts. Make sure you give the flash drive to a designated authorized representative, Executor or Power of Attorney in the event of your incapacitation or death or in the event the disaster wipes out the Internet. See my Creating Your Digital Estate Plan for more tips.

Don’t forget to download a local disaster preparedness app on your phone. A local app is going to tell you about school closings, shelter locations and roads that are flooded. Get one from your state Emergency Management Association or your county American Red Cross office.

Don’t forget to pack a cell phone charger in your disaster kit. I like this one. Solar chargers are good too, but then again many disasters are sunless events.

Don’t forget to set up a Twitter and a Facebook account. You will find it a useful way to communicate with family, friends and co-workers during a disaster even if you don’t use it for any other purpose.

Don’t forget to rehearse your home evacuation plan in the daytime and in the dark of night.

As I listen to this morning’s ominous weather forecast, I am reminded that “organization” has countless beneficial applications. Being able to access what we need when we need it, setting priorities, planning ahead — core elements of organizing, can be applied to every aspect of life yielding productivity, effectiveness and efficiency. Another benefit of organization is that it allows a person time to think. During a disaster, when confusion and fear is high, clear headedness can be the difference between life and death. When I provide disaster services to my clients I emphasize that being disaster prepared is about clear-headedness and self-reliance. Here are simple, mainstream ways to get disaster prepared, not in the heat of the moment, but planned in advance.

While you’re organizing your taxes or preparing for vacation, copy vital documents and store them offsite.

When you organize the pantry, isolate a section of food that can be prepared without heat.

When you spring clean, find a logical place for flashlights, batteries, and extra bottled water. Clear out clutter on the stairs and near the windows that could obstruct a rapid escape.

When you organize electronic files, download essential files to a disc and secure it offsite.

When you organize the basement, mark the gas, water, electric, and other utility on and off mechanisms with clear labels.

When you schedule your vacation, schedule time to create a family communication plan.

When you organize photographs, make excellent copies of heritage photographs. Display the copies and store and protect the originals.